Liberty Tree Tavern, bad experience and we didnt even get to the food!

[Disneylover99]

Seriously? A 40 min wait is to be expected. I do not agree at all. A wait yes, that far after, no. And yes, before you say it (or someone else does) I understand how ADR at Disney work. I know they are not reservations. But I also know that 40 min is not normal and it would be a huge surprise and I would NOT agree to wait that long and would be no fee when I got done. Sorry, not agreeing with you there on that one

Do I like to wait 40 minutes? No. But I've been in situations at Disney where I've been quoted a long wait. The actual wait time has almost always been less then that. The way I see it is, I made the ADR because I want to eat there. If I leave, chances are I'm going to wait somewhere else.

 

[Mousetopia]

So we'd had LTT booked since 180 days out and planned all our fastpasses around it for the day, was really looking forward to it.
THEN they changed the menu and took all the good things away, apart from the toffee cake. We thought about cancelling but we were on DDP so decided to stay with it and give it a chance.

Turned up to our reservation yesterday to about 100 really annoyed looking people waiting around - bad omen, went to check in realising that they were way behind, we checked in to be told to expect AT LEAST a 30-40minute delay in seating us but we had to stay in the holding pen.

This was too much time for us so we said we would like to cancel, to which their frankly awful front of house lady gladly told me she would charge me a no-show fee for cancelling my ADR last minute! She argued that it was my fault they were late for at least a few minutes, because the menu change has affected them too and I should have anticipated disruption to my ADR time. Thankfully after asking for a manager he quickly agreed that 40 minutes past ADR time was ridiculous and let us go to CHH for a lovely quick service meal with no charge.

Sad to say I will never be going back there. And I hope Disney does some better front of house training soon

I understand from others cancelling at the door due to disastisfaction with menu changes they were able to cancel no penalty. It sounds up to the discretion of the person helping you. You need to write a letter about this to guest service.

 

[Mousetopia]

With a reservation or adr I never think 20 minutes is acceptable unless I have a request..like at Sanaa when I asked for a window seat..they said it might be a 20 minute wait and I said fine! I would expect if met with "we are behind" it was then my choice to stay or go with no cancel fee. I would call disney after and get it removed it one happened. I understand it is at the discretion of the restaurant whether they charge or not. I hope you let the manager know the details of that conversation with the rude CM.

 

[bumbershoot]

the menu change has affected them too and I should have anticipated disruption to my ADR time.

Ack!

Normal people don't pay attention to menu changes. How on earth could a normal person anticipate such a thing???

I hope you let the manager know what she said and that he took it seriously.

 

[AngiTN]

Do I like to wait 40 minutes? No. But I've been in situations at Disney where I've been quoted a long wait. The actual wait time has almost always been less then that. The way I see it is, I made the ADR because I want to eat there. If I leave, chances are I'm going to wait somewhere else.

I don't disagree with anything but that it should be expected and that you should expect to be held to the no show penalty if you opt to leave when told it will be 40 min past your ADR time before you are seated. Let the guest decide but don't hold them hostage with a no show fee. Heck, a few guests leaving helps the restaurant out too. The more guests signed in the longer the waits will push out over the course of the day.

 

[TeresaWen]

Do I like to wait 40 minutes? No. But I've been in situations at Disney where I've been quoted a long wait. The actual wait time has almost always been less then that. The way I see it is, I made the ADR because I want to eat there. If I leave, chances are I'm going to wait somewhere else.

In my opinion there is no restaurant worth a 40 minute wait in a lobby doing nothing but waiting for a table.

 

[Disneylover99]

If one checks in and is told that the wait is 30+ minutes then all fees should automatically be waived if they can't wait.

Sounds reasonable to me.

 

[tony67]

It boggles my mind that people would defend Disney charging a cancellation fee because they planned thier menu change poorly.

The OP showed up on time and was told that it would be a 40 minute wait at lunch time - and that they would have to wait in aholding pen - that is unacceptable and it is even more ridiculous that you have to get a manager involved to waive the cancellation fee - I guess that is the magic of Disney

 

[Ladyfish77]

At least they told you the wait time. I went to 50's Prime Time in late May and we waited over an hour for our table (for 2 people). If I had known, I would have definitely cancelled. I won't be going back. Food was good, but it wasn't worth the wait.

 

[Disneylover99]

It boggles my mind that people would defend Disney charging a cancellation fee because they planned thier menu change poorly.

I don't think anyone has done this.

 

[tony67]

I don't think anyone has done this.

I would have been fine with the wait or paying the cancellation fee. Waits and fees are no surprise.

I agree that waits and fees are no surprise.

 

[Disneylover99]

Waits and fees are no surprise. Have you never waited at all for an ADR? Did you not realize there is a cancellation fee?

Nobody is suggesting that the OP is to blame because of the menu change and she should have known better. That is the issue you said that boggles your mind.

If you quoted my entire response, you would see that.

 

[Nancyg56]

Do I like to wait 40 minutes? No. But I've been in situations at Disney where I've been quoted a long wait. The actual wait time has almost always been less then that. The way I see it is, I made the ADR because I want to eat there. If I leave, chances are I'm going to wait somewhere else.

I make ADR's and keep them. I wait if the restaurant is running late. However, in the event I was told 40 minutes at LTT I might have asked to cancel. Your waits were shorter, but not all are. The op did not ask to go ahead of the pack, she wanted to cancel because the restaurant could not accomodate in a reasonable time. I think that is fair.

Waits and fees are no surprise. Have you never waited at all for an ADR? Did you not realize there is a cancellation fee?

Nobody is suggesting that the OP is to blame because of the menu change and she should have known better. That is the issue you said that boggles your mind.

If you quoted my entire response, you would see that.

If the restaurant wants to charge that cancellation fee it better be able to seat me in a reasonable time frame. I understand ADR's are not true reservations but if Disney wants to treat them as though they are, and j support that, Disney restaurants need to manage their time better. If the restaurant reserved the right to cancel an ADR and charge the fee if I am late they better be willing to either seat me on time within reason or let that fee go. If I do not choose to wait.

 

[jon18uk]

That's how regular Dining Reservations work in the rest of the world too.

No, many restaurants will place a reserved sign on a table for you and not seat other guests at that table if it will make it unavailable for you. For example if you book a table for 8pm, the table might sit empty from 7:15 as they know they cannot seat more guests as you have a reservation. Whereas with Disney's system they might seat someone at a table at 7:15 without worrying about the people booked at 8pm.

 

[AngiTN]

Waits and fees are no surprise. Have you never waited at all for an ADR? Did you not realize there is a cancellation fee?

Nobody is suggesting that the OP is to blame because of the menu change and she should have known better. That is the issue you said that boggles your mind.

If you quoted my entire response, you would see that.

The part that boggles the mind is that in this specific case it was to be expected and shouldn't be a surprise that there was a wait or a fee. Within reason, that is quite true. This was not within reason. And no one has ever said that a wait is unexpected. I believe everyone understands that a wait will occur. When it's as excessive as 40 min to suggest that is to be met without questioning is a bit unreasonable. No restaurant should hold a guest to a no show fee if they show up and if they are met with an excessive wait. What is excessive you ask? That is a good question. A standard could be established with ease, of say 30 min. At that point, if a guest that checked in and wasn't late to the ADR, wants to leave they should not be charged a no show fee.

 

[AngiTN]

No, many restaurants will place a reserved sign on a table for you and not seat other guests at that table if it will make it unavailable for you. For example if you book a table for 8pm, the table might sit empty from 7:15 as they know they cannot seat more guests as you have a reservation. Whereas with Disney's system they might seat someone at a table at 7:15 without worrying about the people booked at 8pm.

Right, there are reservations that work in such a way they only take them for the number of tables available at a given slot. If they have 10 tables and have reservations for 10 tables at 7:00 they won't take another reservation at 7:30. Maybe they'll take one at 8:30 (I have no idea how much time is usually allocated to a meal). If one of the 7:00 guests leave at 8:15, the table will remain empty until 8:30, or whenever the 8:30 guest arrives. They won't seat someone if it would take away a table for an 8:30 reservation.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I get that Disney instituted the cancellation fee to discourage people from making multiple ADRs. But it really is a huge inconvenience to keep them when you are traveling with a big group or if you get a bad weather week.

After my last trip, I am done with ADRs. Next trip, I will make 2 at most for Ohana dinner and Be Our Guest lunch.

The only possible reason I would make any more is if I had the DDP for some reason, like if I took a Free Dining offer or my in-laws treated us.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Yes, waits should not be a surprise, but a wait of 40 minutes past your ADR time is excessive. The manager agreed and let the OP skip the ADR without imposing the no show fee. That was the right call.

There should be a time limit for waits and if you don't get seated within that time limit after your ADR, you should be able to walk away without having to pay the fee. I think 30 minutes is reasonable. I also think it's a good idea if the hostess could take cell numbers and call or text the guest when their table is ready.

 

[AngiTN]

Yes, waits should not be a surprise, but a wait of 40 minutes past your ADR time is excessive. The manager agreed and let the OP skip the ADR without imposing the no show fee. That was the right call.

There should be a time limit for waits and if you don't get seated within that time limit after your ADR, you should be able to walk away without having to pay the fee. I think 30 minutes is reasonable. I also think it's a good idea if the hostess could take cell numbers and call or text the guest when their table is ready.

They are doing this in some cases. It doesn't happen at every location, or even every time in the locations that can do it. I don't know the parameters for it or even the locations. It is needed anytime you aren't seated as soon as you arrive. That way, folks can walk off a bit, not stand there clogging the entry. Some of those are quite small.

 

[Disneylover99]

I make ADR's and keep them. I wait if the restaurant is running late. However, in the event I was told 40 minutes at LTT I might have asked to cancel. Your waits were shorter, but not all are. The op did not ask to go ahead of the pack, she wanted to cancel because the restaurant could not accomodate in a reasonable time. I think that is fair.



If the restaurant wants to charge that cancellation fee it better be able to seat me in a reasonable time frame. I understand ADR's are not true reservations but if Disney wants to treat them as though they are, and j support that, Disney restaurants need to manage their time better. If the restaurant reserved the right to cancel an ADR and charge the fee if I am late they better be willing to either seat me on time within reason or let that fee go. If I do not choose to wait.

My longest wait was an hour at the Biergarten. I was not happy. I did think about leaving. I would have asked them to waive the cancellation fee had I decided not to wait. I have zero issues with people doing so. I have simply stated that for me, I wouldn't have had a problem with a 30-40 minute wait.